This Earth Day, Let's Reclaim the Bitcoin Energy Debate
Bitcoin mining isn’t destroying the planet, it’s creating a solution to key problems of renewable energy.
ABOUT
Bitcoin mining isn’t destroying the planet, it’s creating a solution to key problems of renewable energy.
This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.
Today on the Brief:
- Crypto M&A heats up
- Is ETH deflationary now?
- Cathie Wood is the Michael Saylor of Coinbase stock
Our main discussion:
Square’s Bitcoin Clean Energy Initiative and ARK Investments have teamed up to release a memo about how bitcoin addresses key issues in the renewable energy space. Not only do renewables make sense as an energy source for mining, but bitcoin mining as “the energy buyer of last resort” could address key issues of intermittency and grid congestion.
See also: Bitcoin Investing Is ESG Investing
Image credit: Iaremenko/iStock/Getty Images Plus
HOST
NLW is an independent strategy and communications consultant for leading crypto companies as well as host of The Breakdown – the fastest-growing podcast in crypto. Whittemore has been a VC with Learn Capital, was on the founding team of Change.org, and founded a program design center at his alma mater Northwestern University that helped inspire the largest donation in the school’s history.

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